Petunia plant named ‘Duesunblu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Duesunblu’, characterized by its mounding to outwardly trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; medium to large-size flowers with dark violet-colored petals with dark purple-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: (Petunia×hybrida)×Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESUNBLU’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Petunia Plant Named ‘Duesunpursky’.

Applicant: Ruth Kobayashi

Filed: Concurrently with this application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as (Petunia×hybrida)×Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duesunblu’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new moderately vigorous and trailing Petunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of (Petunia×hybrida)×Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number TT-0813, not patented. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. on Nov. 11, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since Nov. 12, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duesunblu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duesunblu’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Mounding to outwardly trailing plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Medium to large-size flowers with dark violet-colored petals         with dark purple-colored centers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selection have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of (Petunia×hybrida)×Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duesunpursky’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 15/530,213. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Duesunpursky’ in flower color as plants of ‘Duesunpursky’ have purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Petunia have slightly smaller flowers than plants of ‘Duesunpursky’.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia×Calibrachoa ‘Dancalipet’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,063. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Dancalipet’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more trailing than and not as         mounding as plants of ‘Dancalipet’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Dancalipet’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Dancalipet’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Dancalipet’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Dancalipet’ have red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duesunblu’.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duesunblu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early autumn in summer in 15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 17° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time at planting and were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: (Petunia×hybrida)×Calibrachoa sp.     ‘Duesunblu’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary     selection of (Petunia×hybrida)×Calibrachoa sp. identified as code     number TT-0813, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Mounding to trailing plant habit;             freely branching habit with about six primary lateral             branches, each primary lateral branch with about five to six             secondary laterals and numerous tertiary laterals             developing; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 17.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 58 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then becoming outwardly trailing             with development.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent, minute; matte.         -   Color.—Close to 146C; color becoming closer to 146B with             development. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,             minute; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;             venation, close to N137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; slight luster. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             more than 400 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the summer in Southern California; early flowering habit,             plants typically beginning flowering about three to four             weeks after pinching.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about three to             five days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Elongated, longitudinally pleated. Texture and             luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close to N77A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.4 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, middle.—About 7 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 3 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly fan-shaped. Petal apex: Rounded with shallow             indentation. Petal margin: Entire; undulate. Petal texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; satiny,             moderately lustrous. Petal texture and luster, lower             surface: Pubescent, minute; matte. Throat texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; lustrous. Tube texture and luster:             Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when opening,             upper surface: Close to brighter than N79A. Petal lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to N77C. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Close to brighter than 83A; towards             the throat, close to 79A; venation, close to darker than             86A; with development, color becoming closer to 86A. Petal             lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 79C; venation,             close to N79A; with development, color becoming closer to             79D. Flower throat: Ground color, close to 152D; dense             venation, close to N79A. Flower tube: Ground color, close to             152D; venation, close to 152B to 152C and 79A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a             star-shaped calyx. Calyx length: About 2 cm. Calyx diameter:             About 2.2 cm. Sepal length: About 1.8 cm. Sepal width: About             2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly oblong. Sepal apex: Acute.             Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to N137A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to N137B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to N137A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° to 55° from             lateral stem axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent, minute;             matte. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to             145C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Nearly round.             Anther color: Close to 6D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 12B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 1.3 cm. Style length: About 1 cm. Style             color: Close to 145D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma             shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary color:             Close to 145A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development             have not been observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Duesunblu’ as illustrated and described. 